Don’t look away

Fun, glitzy, open minded, dynamic, MASSIVE ITB is next week – here are our sustainable choices plus a message from Rika

Writes Rika Jean Francois CSR Commissioner for ITB… Dear Exhibitors, dear trade visitors, dear colleagues, friends and fellow combatants!

During this year’s ITB we will once again celebrate International World Women’s Day which has been recently declared a National Holiday in the city state of Berlin! Brandenburg – as first German federal state – also recently voted for a new law dictating gender parity for the next but one general election: 50% of members of parliament should be women, 50% men. Whether the law will pass is still open. Gender parity in society is still not tangible. We do not claim to have gender parity at ITB either; most of the speakers are still male.

Nevertheless, there is hope: We are working on it. I am proud to gather many excellent and engaged women especially at our 2nd Gender Equality in Tourism Seminar and at the 4th ITB-IIPT "Celebrating Her Awards" which will take place at the Palais in the eve of that new, remarkable Berlin Holiday. Male allies are always welcome – we still have a long way to go.

On the 8th of March itself we will host a SheTrades panel in the Palais and welcome many special female guests at our renowned ITB – Blue Yonder Responsible Tourism Network Event in the evening at 6 pm in hall 4.1b.

Another subject close to my heart is Human Rights in Tourism. At ITB, we foster dialogue and controversial discussions as they pave the way to awareness. Violations of human rights are manifold; may it be because of age, gender, looks, colour of skin, disability, medical condition, economic status, origin, or sexual orientation..

It is important to address each one of them and to search for solutions rather than looking away. Tourism can help to open doors and to fight discrimination. It will even pay: On ITB Thursday we are expecting a vibrant discussion on whether respecting human rights will economically benefit a destination. Indigenous rights and the challenge to promote an indigenous tourism which is a respectful and community-benefitting, an often neglected subject, will be addressed on Wednesday.

One of the biggest challenges of the future is climate change. A 16-year-old girl from Sweden, Greta Thunberg, has become a global leader, skipping school on Fridays to demonstrate against the environmental sellout – shaming and opening the eyes of all of us. School children from all over the world join in. As I said, there is hope! Said Greta "We don’t want your hope, we want you to panic!"

https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2019/jan/25/i-want-you-to-panic-16-year-old-greta-thunberg-issues-climate-warning-at-davos-video

Uncontrolled tourism is, according to the WWF, one of the biggest dangers – overtourism is not only an excess of uncontrolled growth but also a severe threat to the environment and social peace. We will discuss solutions how to intelligently overcome this growing problem at several sessions of the ITB Berlin Convention. Climate change, innovative mobility and changing customer demands are the other key topics.

The ITB CSR Day, among other significant subjects, will also address the pollution of our waters: 10 million tons of litter is dumped into the sea per year. This is not only having a negative impact on idyllic beach holiday destinations and tourism but on our ecosystem as a whole.

To support best practices, ITB is proud to give out the ITB Earth Award to a destination showing global leadership in combatting environmental degradation in the frame of the Sustainable Top 100 Destination Awards Ceremony taking place on Wednesday in the Palais.

"There is no business on a dead planet!"*

Thank you for not looking away, thank you for participating and getting involved!

Yours, sincerely

Rika Jean-François, Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility

And here is Vision on Sustainable Tourism’s TOP TEN UNMISSABLE events at ITB next week:

1. Every morning Wed, Thu, Fri

07.00 – 08.00 GO RUN WITH ITB!

MEETING POINT: BRANDENBURG GATE, BERLIN MITTE

Pack your running shoes and join a 5 km morning run in beautiful Tiergarten offered by Go Running Tours (www. gorunningtours.com). No matter if you are a trade visitor, exhibitor, buyer or just want to slip into the role of a tourist bevor business starts at ITB Berlin, kick off your day in Berlin with a free social run each day at 7am. Starting and finishing at the centrally located Brandenburg Gate runners will enjoy a leisurely run with local guides passing by some famous landmarks like Luiseninsel. This unique, healthy and green activity will not only show you a beautiful, hidden part of Berlin but also gives you an ample opportunity to connect with other sportive guests in an informal and casual setting. Pace: We will run in groups of 5.30 min/km, 6 min/km and 6.30 min/km.

ITB Berlin participants also enjoy a 10% discount on all private running tours in Berlin during ITB Berlin with the code: "RUNITB" during checkout at RUNNING TOURS

Contact Person: Stephen Moore, E.: [email protected]

2. Hall 4.1

10.10 – 10.30 Wednesday

World Heritage Journeys of the European Union – New ways to experience Europe’s cultural world heritage The European Union has a fascinating collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, which reflect the incredible depth and diversity of European culture. The sites tell of a rich history and the many ways in which European ideas, inventions, people and cultures continue to connect with the world.

• Peter DeBrine, Senior Project Officer, UNESCO World Heritage Nature, Sustainable Tourism and Outreach Unit (CLT/HER/ WHC/NTO); France

3. Hall 7.1a New York 1

11.00-11.45 Wednesday

DIGITALISM & HUMANITY: HOW DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS MAKING THE HUMAN ELEMENT MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT

We are living in breathtaking times in which the impossible seems to be becoming possible. We will change more in the next 30 years than we did in the last 200. When everything that can be digitalized is digitalized, the non-digitizable becomes more and more valuable: personality, relationships and meaning. We should become powerful thinkers about the future, for a valuable and meaningful human existence. We should fight for value-creating innovation. And above all, we should be agents for the people who, in times of multiple options and hyper-individualization, have a great longing for meaning, belonging and genuine relationships. And let us be visionaries who have the courage to use technology and bring benefits to people – not the other way around.

Nicole Brandes, Intl. Management Coach, Author and Partner, Zukunftsinstitut

4. HALL 19, PALAIS AM FUNKTURM, AWARD STAGE

16.00 – 1700 Wednesday

SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS TOP 100 AWARDS 2019 – including the ITB EARTH AWARD

Destinations are key players in enforcing sustainability in tourism, but their efforts were hardly recognized. This is now changing. ITB provides its prime auditorium to an award scheme exclusively dedicated to destinations.

Greetings: Rika Jean-Francois, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility Moderated by: • Albert Salman, President, Green Destinations; Netherlands

• Valere Tjolle, Publisher & Editor, TravelMole VISION on Sustainable Tourism

5. HALL 4.1B, ADVENTURE STAGE (SMALL STAGE)

10.00 – 10.30 Thursday

CHANGING THE STORYTELLERS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM

Travellers today are seeking more meaningful experiences as they roam the world by taking the road less travelled; they want to be moved and want to know that they are leaving behind a positive impact. Baraka is dedicated to creating meaningful travel experiences that bring value to both travellers and local communities, who are often marginalized and left out of the tourism supply chain. Join Muna Haddad to hear about Baraka’s community driven destination development approach. She will share the story of Um Qais, a small village north of Jordan, which grew to employ over 100 locals, has attracted over 3.000 tourists, and is continuously validating the local culture by sharing their stories with curious travellers. Hear about the Meaningful Travel Map, commended as an innovative approach in sustainable tourism by the New York Times, and our tourism clinics that are shifting charity driven local enterprises to become viable tourism businesses.

• Muna Haddad, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Baraka Destinations; Jordan

6. HALL 19, PALAIS AM FUNKTURM, AWARD STAGE

11.00 – 12.00 Thursday

LGBT+ SEMINAR & ITB LGBT+ PIONEER AWARD

Human Rights as a tourism success driver: How does LGBT+ Tourism help developing the overall success of a tourism destination?

To respect human rights is a global obligation which is not always fully met. Tourism can be a door opener and a force for good. Which steps are necessary and useful?

Welcome note: Rika Jean-François, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility

Opening Speech: Derek Hanekom, Hon. Minister of Tourism; South Africa

Moderated by: Thomas Bömkes, Managing Director of Diversity Tourism GmbH, LGBT Consultant of ITB Berlin, Germany

Special Guests:

• Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff, German Ambassador in Malaysia • LGBT+ asylum seekers from Malaysia in Germany

Panelists:

• Lipian Bongani Mtandabari, Director, Ntsako Portfolio Africa; South Africa

• Dr. Stephan Gellrich, Lead of LGBT+ Network "Pride at Accenture" in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Russia • LoAnn Halden, Vice President, Communications, IGLTA; USA

• Theresa Quiachon, researcher, Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business; Germany

• Helmut Metzner, Bundesvorstand, LSVD; Germany

Followed by ITB Award Ceremony: ITB LGBT+ PIONEER AWARD

Laudation by: Rika Jean-François, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility

7. HALL 19, PALAIS AM FUNKTURM, AWARD STAGE

11.00 – 12.00 Thursday

4TH "CELEBRATING HER AWARDS" OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM INDIA (IIPT INDIA) & ITB BERLIN

– "CELEBRATING HER" AWARDS CEREMONY

The 4th IIPT India Global Awards, "Celebrating Her", acknowledge and felicitate exceptional women in the fields of travel, tourism and hospitality.

Greetings: Rika Jean-François, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility Introduction: Ajay Prakash, President, International Institute for Peace through Tourism; India

Moderated by: Anita Mendiratta, International Strategic Advisor in the area of Tourism and Economic Development, Lead Consultant, CNN’s T.A.S.K. Group

Special guests:

• Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland, United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals • Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General UNWTO; Jordan

• Marie-Christine Stephenson, Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries (MTIC); Haiti

8. HALL 19, PALAIS AM FUNKTURM, AWARD STAGE

16.30-18.00 Thursday

TO DO AWARD 2019 – CONTEST SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

The Institute for Tourism and Development (Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V.) will present the winners of the TO DO Award 2019 – International Contest for Socially Responsible Tourism, which puts emphasis on community-based practices.

For the 3rd time, the Institute, in cooperation with the Roundtable of Human Rights in Tourism and Studiosus Reisen Munich, will also hand out the TO DO Human Rights in Tourism Award under the patronage of the German Commission for UNESCO.

Moderated by: Nadine Kreutzer, moderator; Germany Keynote TO DO Award:

• Norbert Barthle, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development

Keynote TO DO Award Human Rights in Tourism:

• Dr. Lutz Möller, Deputy Secretary General and Head of Department for Sustainable Development, Science of the German Commission for UNESCO

Winners TO DO Award 2019:

• Awamaki, Peru (represented by Melissa Tola Chepote) • Open Eyes Project, India (represented by Anna Alaman)

Award winner TO DO Award Human Rights in Tourism 2019: • Las Kellys, Spain (represented by Myriam Barros)

Followed by a reception with buffet

9. HALL 4.1A, CENTRAL STAGE (BIG STAGE)

12.30 – 13.30 Friday

DESTINATIONS IN THE BALANCE: GETTING IT RIGHT FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS

We reveal findings from a new report by Cornell University, EplerWood Int’l and the Travel Foundation, and consider how destinations can develop a balanced and sustainable approach, that accounts for both costs and benefits, and the views of residents and other stakeholders.

Introduced and moderated by: Graeme Jackson, Head of Partnerships, the Travel Foundation

Panelists:

• Alberto BernabeÌ, Vice-president and Councillor for Tourism and Foreign Affairs for the Government of Tenerife

• Peter De Wilde, CEO, Visit Flanders

• Sofia Fotiadou, Research Manager, International Sustainable Tourism Initiative, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

• Megan Epler Wood, Managing Director of Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program at Cornell University; Owner and Principal of EplerWood International

10. HALL 4.1

18.00 – 20.00 Friday

11TH ITB BERLIN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM NETWORKING EVENT

This special networking event brings together international responsible tourism practitioners, including exhibitors, trade visitors, sponsors and partners. Everybody can step on stage and describe in a 2-minute- pitch in what kind of responsible tourism initiative he or she is involved, interact with the crowd and find new business partners.

Welcome notes:

• Rika Jean-François, Commissioner, ITB Corporate Social Responsibility

• Gopinath Parayil, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Blue Yonder; India • Casey Hanisko, president, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)

And… if at any time you’re in need of a real boost to renew your energy and committment to tourism – pop along to the Gay and Lesbian pavilion – you’ll be in for a real treat!

ENJOY!

Valere Tjolle